Alex Berenguer’s decisive moment arrived in the 98th minute, sealing a dramatic 4-3 victory for Athletic over Celta in San Mamés. The clash that opened LaLiga EA Sports’ thirteenth round delivered an all‑time roller coaster of a match, with seven goals and multiple VAR reviews shaping the final outcome. In the end, Athletic’s bold charge paid off in the dying seconds as Berenguer found the net and sparked a roaring celebration among the home fans.
Celta led twice in the contest. Iago Aspas struck from long range, followed by Jonathan Bamba from a different distance, while Oihan Sancet’s second goal kept the scoreline tight at 1-1. The visitors capitalized on a loose ball in the box to set up Nico Williams’ finish, briefly tilting the momentum in their favor.
Gorka Guruzeta completed a spirited comeback just before halftime and at the start of the second half, capitalizing on Nico Williams’ setup. Nico’s attempt was repelled by Vicente Guaita, and Jorgen Strand Larsen drew level at 3-3 after a precise cross from Aspas set him up. The match swung again on a counter, with Aspas testing the defense as Celta pressed for a late edge.
The tension peaked when Guruzeta’s penalty option appeared to threaten a different result, but Unai Simón stretched to deny Aspas from close range, keeping the score at 3-3. The visitors could not convert from the spot, while Athletic found their moment when Berenguer earned a late advantage by drawing a foul on Oscar Mingueza. The turning point had arrived, and San Mamés roared in approval.
Unai Simón’s save drew gasps from the crowd and underscored the home side’s resolve. The stadium erupted with the chant that echoed through the stands, symbolizing a night of high drama and resilience.
With the win, Athletic tightened their grip on European qualification places, inching closer to the Champions League spots, while Celta faced a difficult moment in the league standings and remained in a precarious position near the relegation zone.
From the opening whistle, Rafa Benítez had to reorganize the midfield after Renato Tapia’s red card against Sevilla, and Hugo Sotelo’s late-minute discomfort forced a reshuffle. Ernesto Valverde persisted with a 2-3 shape, mirroring a familiar setup from previous fixtures and testing both teams’ tactical flexibility.
The match sprang to life early with two goals in quick succession. Nico Williams delivered a superb center that De Marcos fed into the danger area in the second minute, followed by Bamba’s well‑placed strike in the fourth minute after a clever diagonal from Beltrán. The pace never quite settled after that, with Guruzeta and Sancet probing for chances that would tilt the balance in favor of Athletic.
Later, Guruzeta’s shot through Nico’s delivery posed a real threat, and Aspas had a first goal chalked off for offside before converting a rebound from Unai Simón’s save on Larsen. The visitors created chances of their own, and Sancet spent sustained time in the central attacking area, though Nico’s cross-building play sometimes drew a crowd rather than a decisive finish.
The early advantage swung back and forth as the home side pressed with intensity. Guaita faced a string of attempts, and Mingueza’s defensive work helped Athletic stay within reach. Vesga’s persistence allowed the equalizer to arrive when the ball deflected off Mingueza and fell to the waiting feet of the young midfielder, who found the back of the net with a composed finish.
The scoreboard tension persisted as Bamba struck from a narrow angle to reclaim the lead for Celta, and the game intensified as the half drew to a close. A late surge from Athletic produced a rapid equalizer on a sweeping attack, leaving the crowd on edge as the whistle approached for halftime.
Out of the break, Athletic pressed with renewed purpose. Guruzeta found space to finish from close range after another incisive cross from De Marcos, sending the home supporters into a frenzy. The visitors refused to yield, though, and Larsen’s pace helped Celta draw level again after a well-executed counter from Aspas that finished with a precise pass to Larsen in a prime position.
The turning point came when Guruzeta’s handball during a 72nd-minute sequence prompted a VAR review, deciding a penalty in favor of Celta. Aspas’s powerful shot looked certain to tilt the balance, but Simón read it perfectly and preserved his team’s chances. Still, the drama remained, with Berenguer’s late intervention proving decisive and delivering a memorable finale for Athletic.
The closing moments showcased Athletic’s determination. Sancet and Dani García ran hard in the final siege, while Mingueza’s contact shaped the pivotal moment that allowed Berenguer to claim the match win. The final whistle marked a night of explosive football, a showcase of perseverance, and a memorable chapter in the season’s narrative.
The result strengthened Athletic’s position among Europe-bound teams, while Celta left with a heavy lesson in how a game can swing on a handful of decisive moments and the fine margins that define top-flight football.